Readings:
Numbers 6:22-27;
Psalm 8;
Galatians 4:4-7;
Luke 2:15-21

Collect:
Lord of history,
to whom a thousand years are as a day:
renew us by your Spirit,
that, while we have life and breath,
we may serve you with courage and hope;
through the grace of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
(Collect from the Watchnight service in Methodist Worship Book)

Reflection

At home, we have a little green frog. Not in our pond. That’s our common frog, more brown than green, and well-hidden right now. This little green frog is hard plastic, with a little flat extension at the base of its tail. The idea is to place the frog on a firm surface, press down on the flat extension and slip off my finger … and the frog jumps. The more I practise, the further it jumps. Lots of fun with the grandchildren, and on my own when I’m feeling mischievous.

New year is a little like having someone press the flat extension to our tail and propel us forward with a jump. Not everyone will be looking forward to the new year. There are those we have left behind in 2021, and before, and the further we go into the new year, the further we leave them behind. This is painful and can be a source of regret. I wonder if this is why we’re given the so-called Aaronic blessing to read today in Numbers. I’d not have thought that Numbers features high on your reading-the-bible list, and you may not have read it before looking at this reflection. But there are some fascinating things there, though they do take some looking for.

This blessing is special. Bible translator, Everett Fox, offers it thus (slightly adapted):

May the LORD bless you and keep you.
May the LORD’s face shine upon you and favour you.
May the LORD’s face lift up towards you and grant you peace.

For many, God’s face has been hidden this past year as the pandemic has continued to interrupt just about everything we do. Sickness, isolation, the death of those we know and love, this has been so hard for people that we might think God’s face is hidden from us rather than lifted up towards us.

Yet as we are propelled into the new year, now we are appropriately reminded that God’s face is in fact lifted up to us. Yes, there have been struggles and much pain. Yes, many of us are still fearful and cannot see a clear way forward. If you’ve been watching Strictly Come Dancing, this year it’s been so much more than a competition. Yes, it is a competition, and with the final not yet a distant memory, we can be all too easily stranded with AJ and Kai not being able to take part – and what a disaster that was. They were distraught, yet, they managed to take from their experience new skills learned, and a deep relationship. Fact is, AJ’s ankle must heal. They understand that.

Then notice what an amazing thing it is to have had John with Johannes. They have displayed and represent to us an acceptance (a new normal?) which is wonderful and life-giving, and for which some of us have been longing for many years. And then there is the silence into which Rose invited us as she danced with Giovanni. Not a dry eye in the house as she gently and carefully allowed us to realize just how complicated life is for some all the time, and while sometimes daunted, yet allowed to be lifted up. And haven’t those lifts been a-may-zing!

What the Strictly organizers and professionals with their celebs have done for us this year is remind us that dance is a skill which those who have little, learn a lot, much of it through making mistakes, all of it through hard work and effort. Participants learn new skills and commitment. Curiously enough they have also had to learn to let go. We might say, as some of them have said, allow themselves to be blessed.

As we are propelled into this new year, as at the start of every new year, indeed, every day, God blesses us. God’s face remains always before us, lifting us up, giving us peace. Our none too easy task is to trust ourselves to God, the one who is always present.

Barry Lotz